Posted on 07/13/2018 9:06:10 PM PDT by MountainWalker
BEST AND KINDEST THREAD EVER!
I had a similar situation with my dad. Someone gave me this very good piece of advice: say everything you want to express to you dad, even if he doesn’t seem to understand. It’s the stuff you don’t say that ends up haunting you later. You need to have said it.
Perhaps you could try rediscovering your Catholic faith as another way to keep the connection to your dad alive. Experience it in a new way.
May God bless you.
Praying for you and your dad and step-mom. Dementia is very difficult. Find a good church, pray and follow your wife’s advice to get counseling. And keep taking care of yourself, that’s a plus. You’ve got a lot coming at you all at once and that is stressful, while you’re processing grief.
Thanks to everyone for all the prayers and helpful advice. I’ve read ever word of all of your replies, and I can’t express how much better I feel already. Free Republic really is heaven on Earth. :-)
My wife is in year 12 of Frontotemporal dementia, we have started year 3 in the nursing home. I continue to work because I can’t afford to keep her in the nursing home otherwise and her physical needs are too great for me to try to provide at home. My wife was an elementary school teacher who had just retired when her symptoms started. I have been through all the stages of grief with this illness. I have the following observations to make.
Bad things happen to good people. There is no why , there just is.God will explain it to you later.
Do not put your faith in worldly religious leaders, they will fail you every time. Put your trust in God.
Cherish every moment you can with them. Your father is still you father. Support your Step-mother- her burden is great also.Tell your father that you love him each and every time you leave him.I try to remember to do this each time I leave my wife.
Prayers for you and anyone else in need of them tonight.
Amen, FRiend.
May God guide and strengthen each of us, as we work to Walk with Him.
Tatt
I just lost my Sweet Mother 3 weeks ago to this disease.
My heart broke 5 years ago when she first displayed symptoms. She knew then that something was very wrong and she would lash out in fear of what was happening to her.It was very sad.
Dementia is very cruel because it robs the person of their ability to enjoy family and friends. It gets to a leveling off point, but all you can do is love them and realize they still love you but are locked in another world inside themselves and are unable to do so.
When God called my Mom home it was a blessing because she always knew where she was going. The misery was finally over for her. It was for us too. You grieve and miss them long before they die.
All you can do is cope the best that you can. There are no magic pills to make it better for him or you.
Bless you. I am gonna cry now.
My posy at #108 was for Mountain Walker. Sorry Nifster.
It’s ok. I figured as much
It’s hard losing one’s mom
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